The Toronto Blue Jays and veteran free agent Justin Turner have come to an agreement on a one-year deal, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported Tuesday morning.
Per Morosi, Turner's contract includes a $13 million base salary, plus $1.5 million available in roster and performance bonuses.
Turner was tied to the Blue Jays as recently as Sunday, and Morosi reported Monday that he was set to make his decision this week. The San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets were the other teams supposedly pursuing Turner.
The 39-year-old primarily served as the Boston Red Sox's designated hitter in 2023, and Morosi expects him to do the same north of the border, but he is still capable of starting at third and first base.
Turner may have gotten his start with the Baltimore Orioles back in 2009, but he earned his first regular playing time with the Mets in 2011. The Los Angeles Dodgers picked Turner up in 2014, and he would go on to make two All-Star appearances in nine seasons with the club.
Even as he's reached his late 30s, Turner has remained productive at the plate. He is averaging 21 home runs, 88 RBI and a 2.5 WAR a year over the last three seasons, all while hitting .277 with an .807 OPS.
For his career, Turner has racked up 1,461 hits, 187 home runs, 759 RBI and a 36.5 WAR.
Turner hit .276 with 23 home runs, 96 RBI, an .800 OPS and a 2.1 WAR during his lone campaign with the Red Sox. Prior to the All-Star break, Turner was hitting .288 with an .824 OPS.
Turner had the option to return to Boston this fall, but he opted to enter free agency instead. The Red Sox still owed Turner a $6.7 million buyout, which was half of the $13.4 million option he declined.
Turner joining the Blue Jays allows Danny Jansen to become the team's backup catcher again. It also gives the club a more veteran option in their third base platoon that already included Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal, all while giving those infielders the flexibility to play more elsewhere.
Between Turner, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer, Alejandro Kirk and Kevin Kiermaier, the Blue Jays should once again boast one of the top offenses in the American League in 2023. Whit Merrifield, Matt Chapman and Brandon Belt are all free agents, but Turner and some of the young players will be relied upon to replace their outgoing production.
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